dead fish in a planted tank

[OrandaMan]

What the heck do you do in this situation? I have a missing otocinclus and I haven't a clue how to look for it. My poking around, trying to be careful with the plants, isn't doing it.

[Mzungu]

Sometimes if a smaller fish dies in one of my planted tanks, they're eaten by snails/shrimp/other fishes before I can even think about pulling them out. I'm alerted to a fish death sometimes by a mass gathering of snails at the bottom of a tank.

Check for a large group of snails.

If there's no luck there, create a tidal wave in the tank with your hand and see if anything comes loose (as horrible as that might sound...). Do it forcibly enough to dislodge something like a dead fish, but not to uproot the plants.

If there is again no luck, then just keep an eye on your other fish to make sure they aren't feeling the effects of a decaying fish, and check your ammonia/nitrites/nitrates over the next couple of days.

At least, that's what I do if this happens to me.

Sorry about your little Oto. :(

[76dragon]

Wait a while and take the bones out.

[kwc1974]

I would not worry too much, more than likely the otto is hiding. but if it has died do what MB has recomends. that is about all you can do without tearing apart some of the tank or ignoring the dead fish and let the scavengers take care of it.

[OrandaMan]

Thanks, guys.

I figured at first that I was just missing one because it was hiding. They're all over the place and it's always tough to get a good count. However, now I'm certain enough that one of them is no longer among the living. It's okay - some of them were kind of new and when you're trying to keep a thriving group of otocinclus, you should be ready for a few losses because they're usually not that healthy straight from the store.

As this is my dwarf puffer tank, I can't keep snails in there long enough for them to scavenge a dead oto, but I have some amano and cherry shrimp. Think that'll do it? And what if I add some large snail - like one of my mystery or apple snails?

Oh, and the tidal wave didn't do it. The water levels are all fine and my remaining four otos (and, of course, the puffers) show no signs of distress - though one of the otos is dangerously fat. That or full of eggs. Time for some more research.

I don't want to tear apart the tank, because I don't want to release the ammonia down in the substrate.

[Mzungu]

I've never had luck with apple or mystery snails in a planted tank - they like to eat the plants.

But the Amano and cherry shrimp should be good scavengers.

How big is the tank?

I think you'll be fine if you just leave the oto and let nature run its course. Especially since you can't find him. :)

[kwc1974]

You could try Nerite snails. I perfer the zebra as opposed to the olives. Just got some zebras from invertzfactory.com and ther have bold, striking colored shells. I think that a dwarf puffer could not hurt these guys, althour I may be wrong.

[Darbex]

I wouldnt worry about it. If its a heavy planted tank and its a small fish then it will degrade and become plant food and you will not see any real spike in the nitrogens. From my experience when a tetra disappeared I didnt worry about it. Heck I even had a ram disappear and the other inhabitants were no worse they probably eat them up. The problem I have with the tidal wave is you can stir up the detris probably spelled that wrong. When you do you can create an algae bloom this has happened to me before.

[OrandaMan]

Ack! Thanks for the warning, Darbex.

Mzungu: it's a 10 gallon.

I'll definitely check out that site, kwc.

[kwc1974]

I generally do not have a problem when stiring up surface ditrus (probably spelled wrong too ) The problem is when plants are pulled from the substrate and release mulm from the substrate into the water column. But don't fear. if I notice the water getting cloudy and feel like a green water algae bloom is going to start I dose 1-2 mL of hydrogen peroxide and it has stopped GW in its tracks(other algaes as well). Also doing daily 25% WC will slow if not stop GW.

[OrandaMan]

So far, the water is nice and clear.

So... um... yeah... *COUGH*detritus*COUGH

[Darbex]

Hydrogen peroxide? Really I know the carbon trick

[Mzungu]

Hydrogen peroxide? Really I know the carbon trick

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=31706

[lilmissruffcountry]

Hydrogen peroxide? Really I know the carbon trick

It works for the most part, but with some kinds...like the dreaded BBA, it will come back!:furious:

[Darbex]

hmmmm ok nice to know